Skip to main content

How the Houston Region Is Increasing Its Green Footprint

Published Apr 20, 2023 by Taylor Tatum

The Commons at Hermann Park (Rendering Courtesy: Hermann Park Conservancy)

The Commons at Hermann Park (Rendering Courtesy: Hermann Park Conservancy)

Community leaders are prioritizing increasing green space across the Houston region to improve quality of life and build a more sustainable future. In honor of Earth Day, we’re highlighting a few projects that showcase the region’s commitment. 

Over 12,000 trees are located within Hermann Park, and a $52 million project will add more to that number. The highlight of the renovation project is The Commons, a 26-acre play garden designed to inspire and engage young minds with a space-themed area that includes a play layout resembling a splashdown capsule, parachute and rocket launch with slides and climbing structures. 

“We want there to be a sense of discovery, with a real diversity of types of play and levels of challenge. Spaces for different kids’ abilities and moods so they can choose their own adventure,” Jack Ohly, Associate Principal at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and Lead Landscape Architect on the Hermann Commons Project, told the Houston Chronicle. 

In addition to the new playground, the renovation project also features expanded family picnic areas, a dog park, and more shaded areas with the incorporation of 1,200 new trees and 45,000 new plants.  The massive project was made possible by the support of hundreds of Houstonians, with the largest contribution coming from longtime zoo and park supporter Kathrine G. McGovern. The newly renovated park is expected to open in early 2024.  

Hermann Park’s renovation project isn’t the only project underway that aims to increase the region’s green footprint. Montgomery County has recently announced plans for a nearly 400-acre park near its Woodforest community. Though design is still in its early stages, Fish Creek Regional Park plans to offer a host of amenities, including a community center, hiking and equestrian trails, a nature and outdoor education center, and various sports fields. 

According to a statement from Burditt Consultants LLC, the company that won the contract for the park’s amenities, the goal of the project is to preserve and sustain the area’s natural resources, including wildlife and watersheds, while still creating a park that will be a benefit to everyone in the region. 

These recent park developments and their focus on conservation and sustainability align closely with the city’s own goals of improving Houston’s green space. In tandem with its Climate Action Plan, the city of Houston has launched an initiative in partnership with NRG to plant 100,000 trees as part of a larger goal: planting 4.6 million trees by 2030. This initiative will improve air quality, reduce heat, and bring improvements to different communities across the region. 

This is in addition to other reforestation efforts happening at Halls Bayou, which saw almost 600 trees planted earlier this year, and Memorial Park, where acres of native prairie grass and trees were planted on its new land bridge. In Harris County’s Precinct 2, roughly 500 trees were planted as part of the Bay Area Boulevard Reforestation Project’s goal to plant a total of 1,000 trees.  

Learn more about Houston’s green spaces

Related News

Economic Development

Houston Astros’ Entertainment District to Drive Significant Economic Growth

7/19/24
The Houston Astros are set to bolster their role as a major economic driver for the city with a new mixed-use district.   The district, which will feature a 17-story, 300-room hotel and 60,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space adjacent to Minute Maid Park, is expected to generate $5.7 billion in economic impact over 20 years, according to the Houston Business Journal. Announced last year, the project is part of a larger initiative to transform downtown into a premier entertainment destination like those around other MLB ballparks such as The Battery Atlanta and Ballpark Village in St. Louis.  Click to expand The project also includes plans for a three-story building that will serve as a gathering space for game day watch parties and live music events. The space will feature a large outdoor screen where fans can watch the Astros and other Houston teams such as the Texans and Rockets, as well as other major sporting events. It will also be enclosed by glass windows overlooking the ballpark that can open during pleasant weather.  "Our goal is it's an attractive area year-round, not just on game days, and it'll be a really great, happening venue," said Giles Kibbe, the Astros' senior vice president and general counsel, in a statement. "If you want to go to a public place to watch a sporting event, this is going to be the spot to go to."  Hines, the Houston real estate firm responsible for the Toyota Center, will develop the district. Meanwhile, Dallas-based HKS Architects, known for designing the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field, is creating the master plan for the project. Construction on the district is expected to begin in 2025 and span three years, with an estimated cost of $327 million.  This significant investment comes as Houston's growing prominence as an international sports city takes center stage, highlighted by its success in securing major sporting events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025, 2027 and 2031 AAU Junior Olympic Games. The district will further strengthen the city’s reputation as an entertainment destination, drawing even more visitors downtown.   Learn more about living in Houston.  
Read More
Quality of Life

New project to Transform Downtown Houston into Walkable Destination

6/28/24
A project aims to increase Houston’s walkability by transforming seven blocks in downtown into a car-free, pedestrian-friendly destination. The project, dubbed More Space: Main Street 2.0, will extend Main Street from Commerce to Rusk and add four additional blocks from Rusk to Allen’s Landing, bringing the area to span a total of 11 blocks. This expansion will permanently block off traffic to the area, creating a promenade where people can safely eat, shop and gather.  Click to expand Originally launched as a response to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the More Space: Main Street 2.0 project initially enabled businesses to utilize roadway space for outdoor dining while people enjoyed expanded walking areas. The program’s popularity led the Houston City Council to formally approve its permanent implementation in 2023, with the goal of attracting more visitors to the area.  Click to expand Spearheaded by Downtown Houston+, the project is currently in its final design and engineering stages, which include plans for new safety crossings, shaded social areas, landscaping and public art installations. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2025 and expected to finish ahead of the city’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches.  "The Main Street Promenade is a transformative project defining the next chapter of Main Street and Downtown," Mayor John Whitmire said in a news release, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. "I am excited about the City's future, including downtown, where we are designing a destination that attracts more people to work, live and play."  More Space: Main Street 2.0 is just one of several initiatives underway aimed at improving walkability in Houston. Another project, East Blocks, led by real estate developers Pagewood and Wile Interests, will convert warehouses in East Downtown into a walkable 10-block mixed-use district. Additionally, The Plant, a 17-acre mixed-use district, will revamp the historic streets of Second Ward, establishing a pedestrian-friendly district lined with a diverse mix of restaurants and shops.  Discover more about living in Houston. 
Read More

Related Events

Demography

One Houston Together : Inclusion Solutions Part 2

Creating cultures of belonging and closing belonging gaps is a crucial strategy for every organization that wants to be competitive in the future and retain and engage employees of all backgrounds. The topic…

Learn More
Learn More
Executive Partners